Alex Highsmith Bio
Alex Highsmith is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 7, 1997, in Wilmington, North Carolina, he has developed into one of the Steelers’ most dependable edge defenders since being selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 242 pounds, Highsmith combines size, speed, and instincts to disrupt opposing offenses.
Highsmith played college football at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he grew from a walk-on into a record-setting defensive end. He has since earned recognition as a leader in forced fumbles and as a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Off the field, he is known for his community service work through the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation.
Early Life and Background
Alex Highsmith grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended Eugene Ashley High School. A versatile multi-sport athlete, he played baseball, basketball, and football, excelling on both sides of the football field. As a senior, he played middle linebacker and fullback and earned second-team All-Area honors along with first-team All-Mideastern Conference recognition. He was also named All-Area in baseball, reflecting his broad athletic ability.
Despite his high school success, Highsmith was lightly recruited by college football programs. He drew interest from Davidson and Furman before being offered a spot on the UNC Charlotte team as a walk-on. That opportunity would set the stage for one of the most remarkable developmental stories in the Conference USA ranks.
Path to American Football
Highsmith joined the Charlotte 49ers as a walk-on and redshirted his true freshman season to develop his body and skills. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 12 games and finished with 17 tackles and a sack, showing early signs of his pass-rushing potential. During his redshirt sophomore year, he became a key member of the defensive line rotation, tallying 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.
His breakout arrived as a redshirt junior, when he was named a starter at defensive end. He set a Charlotte school record with 17.5 tackles for loss while adding 60 total tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles, earning first-team All-Conference USA honors. As a senior, he again earned first-team All-Conference USA recognition and was selected as a third-team All-American by the Associated Press after setting new school records with 14 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
Alex Highsmith Career
Early Career (2020)
Highsmith was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, 102nd overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact in the passing game, recording his first career interception off Lamar Jackson in a Week 8 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The following week, he notched his first career sack against the Dallas Cowboys.
Highsmith made his first NFL start in Week 13 against the Washington Football Team and finished the season as a starter, closing the year with a sack against the Cleveland Browns. His rapid transition from rotational player to starter demonstrated his readiness for the professional level.
2021–2022 Breakout
In 2021, Highsmith recorded six sacks, 74 total tackles, and one forced fumble while starting all 16 games. He added a sack in the Steelers’ Wild Card Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, showing he could perform on the postseason stage.
The 2022 campaign marked Highsmith’s arrival as a premier edge rusher. He opened the season with three sacks and a forced fumble in an overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals and was later named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a two-sack, forced-fumble performance against the New Orleans Saints. He finished the year with 63 tackles, a team-high 14.5 sacks, and a league-leading five forced fumbles, tying for the NFL lead in that category.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2023–Present)
On July 19, 2023, Highsmith signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension with the Steelers, including $27.74 million guaranteed and a $16 million signing bonus. In Week 2 of the 2023 season, he intercepted Deshaun Watson and returned it 30 yards for his first NFL touchdown while also forcing a fumble that set up the game-winning score, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He closed the season with seven sacks, 57 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
In 2024, Highsmith added six sacks, 45 tackles, and two passes defended while continuing to start for the Steelers. He opened the 2025 season with a Week 9 performance against the Indianapolis Colts that included four tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble, earning another AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. He finished 2025 with a team-high 9.5 sacks, 50 total tackles, and three passes defended.
Driving Style and Strengths
Highsmith is a relentless edge rusher whose strengths lie in his quick first step, length, and ability to pursue plays sideline to sideline. He excels at setting the edge against the run while generating consistent pressure on quarterbacks, as reflected by his team-high sack totals in 2022 and 2025. His discipline and football intelligence make him a three-down defender who can drop into coverage as well as rush the passer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highsmith’s first career interception against Lamar Jackson and his pick-six of Deshaun Watson in 2023 rank among his signature plays. He also tied for the NFL lead in forced fumbles in 2022 with five and earned back-to-back AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards in 2022 and 2023. His selection as the Steelers’ 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee underscored his impact beyond the field.
Alex Highsmith Career Wins
While linebackers are not measured by traditional win totals, Highsmith’s impact shows in the victories he has helped produce for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2020. His pass-rushing and run-stopping contributions have anchored a defense that has remained among the league’s most consistent units.
NFL Highlights
Highsmith has posted double-digit sack totals once in his career, recording 14.5 sacks in 2022 to lead the Steelers. He has also finished with team-high sack totals in 2025, with 9.5 sacks. Across his NFL career through 2025, he has accumulated 45 sacks, 337 total tackles, 10 forced fumbles, 10 pass deflections, three interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.
Other Performances
In college at Charlotte, Highsmith set school records for sacks and tackles for loss while earning two first-team All-Conference USA selections. He capped his senior season with third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press, cementing his status as one of the most productive defenders in program history.
Alex Highsmith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Highsmith is a Christian and has spoken publicly about the role faith plays in his life and career. He has also built a strong connection with the Wilmington, Charlotte, and Pittsburgh communities through his family foundation, which hosts annual youth football camps and fundraisers.
Personal Life
In 2023, Highsmith married Alyssa Ungrady, who competed in track and field for the Charlotte 49ers. The couple is involved in charitable work, including the Alex Highsmith Family Foundation, which provides free essentials and athletic opportunities to young people in need. Highsmith’s community efforts led to his nomination for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season reinforced Alex Highsmith’s reputation as a premier pass rusher. He paced the Steelers with 9.5 sacks, added 50 total tackles, and recorded three passes defended, serving as a consistent force on the edge throughout the year. His Week 9 showing against the Indianapolis Colts, featuring two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble, earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career.
Highsmith’s production came amid the Steelers’ continued push for AFC North contention, with his pressure on opposing quarterbacks helping fuel several key divisional wins. His combination of run defense and pass-rushing effectiveness allowed Pittsburgh’s defense to remain flexible in its schemes and aggressive in critical moments.
Entering the back half of his four-year, $68 million contract extension, Highsmith remains a cornerstone of the Steelers’ defense and a leading voice in the locker room. His blend of on-field production and community leadership positions him as a long-term pillar of the franchise well beyond 2025.
